Purdue extension 4ndashHndash571ndashW

4ndashH Beekeeping

Division I

Understanding

the Honey Bee

Year in Project

Date Started in Beekeeping I

Name

Club

County

4-H Beekeeping Division I Understanding the Honey Bee Note to Parents and Volunteer Leaders The 4-H Beekeeping Project helps youth learn about bees and how to be a beekeeper Beekeeping offers many hands-on educational experiences from learning about bees and nectar to learning to raise bees and produce honey

The 4-H Beekeeping Project is divided into three divisions Division I Understanding the Honey Beecovers information on the basic facts of beekeeping the types of bees the honey and wax theyproduce the plants that attract bees and the equipment a beekeeper needs In the first year youth are not required to have any bees but prepare to take care of a honey bee colony of their ownIn Division II Working with Honey Bees youth acquire a colony of bees and learn how to carefor their beehive throughout the year This will include basic beekeeping operations that result in the production of extracted chunk or cut comb honey When the youth are experienced and knowledgeable in the basic care of a beehive they should move on to Division III Advanced Beekeeping Methods The advanced topics include increasing the number of your honey bee colonies increasing honey production producing special kinds of honey learning more about the bee societies and how to manage honey bee diseases and parasites

The learning experiences have been planned as ldquoexperience-centeredrdquo activities Youth are encouraged to take responsibility for their beekeeping projects They can enhance their learning by consulting resources on the Internet at school and at the library or by talking to someone who raises bees Youth are encouraged to have an experienced beekeeper as a mentor

Experiential learning distinguishes 4ndashH youthdevelopment education from many formal educational methods Activities are designed so youth experience a learning activity reflect on what they did (explore the meaning of the activity) generalize what they learned(to test comprehension and appreciation of the activity) and then think about how they can apply what theylearned to other situations (generalize) You can help guide youth as they explore each activity by discussing each section

PurposeDivision I Beekeeping is intended to help youth learn

bull about the types of bees honey and wax they producebull about the plants that attract beesbull about the equipment that a beekeeper needsbull how to compile beekeeping recordsbull how to present the results of their work to othersbull how to develop inquiring mindsmdashthe habit of asking questions and searching for answers

Purdue University staff who contributed to this publicationbull Natalie Carroll and Greg Huntbull Reviewers Tom Turpin and Larry Segerlind

Understanding the Honey Bee Table of Contents Page

Beginning Beekeeping 4

Selecting an Advisor 4

History of Beekeeping 5

The Value of Honey Bees 6

Bee Stings 8

The Castes of Honey Bees 9

Races of Honey Bees 11

Honey and Honey Plants 12

Observing the Hive Entrance 14

Beeswax and Honeycomb 16

Beekeeping Equipment 19

Observing a Beekeeper 21

Demonstrations and Talks 23

Exhibits 25

Resources 25

Glossary 26

Beginning Beekeeping A master beekeeper who worked with honey bees for more than 50 years often said ldquoEvery time I look into a beehive I learn something new about the bees and I see another reason why I likethe bees so muchrdquo This 4-H Beekeeping Project will help you learn about bees and how to be a beekeeper It will not turn you into a ldquomasterrdquo beekeeper but it will help you get started

Selecting an Advisor The only experience most people have had with bees is stepping on one when running barefootthrough the grass You know of course that there is much more to bees than stings or you would not be taking this project However the ldquobee in the grassrdquo experience should have taught you a fact about honey bees they will sting if they think they are in danger Actual experience is the best way to learn about bees An experienced beekeeper is your best source of information about honey bees In fact it is almost impossible to start working withhoney bees without the advice of a helpful beekeeper Plan to watch and study a beekeeper (job shadowing) taking care of his or her hives The more you see the more you will understand Ask questions Do not be worried if the amount you have to learn seems overwhelming There is a lot to learn but you have time to learn it all Beekeeping can be a lifetime vocation and hobby You may find it helpful to purchase a journal to keep notes about what you are learning Then you can refer back to the journal when you are not with the beekeeper and in future years You can also use your journal to write questions that you think of so you will remember to ask them the nexttime you are working with the beekeeper You can help repay the beekeeper for sharing their time and expertise with you by offering your help with the many tasks involved in beekeeping

If you donrsquot already know a beekeeper your county Extension educator may know beekeepers who live in your county or nearby and who are interested in helping you with this project The Purdue Extension bee specialist and the Indiana beekeeping associations are also interested inhelping young people get started in beekeeping See the Resources section of this manual forcontacts

It is a good idea to learn what you can about bees before you meet your beekeeping advisor This will help you know what questions to begin asking You need a basic understanding of bees and their activities so you will know what your advisor is talking about and showing you

Try to read this manual (Understanding the Honey Bee) and complete the questions beforeyou meet with your advisor The 4-H manuals give you a little information about bees and beekeeping but you will need other resources to answer the questions in the manuals Most of the answers to these questions are in the book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition)This book is an excellent investment for the beginning beekeeper You will use it in all divisions of your 4-H Beekeeping Project and it will be useful as long as you are a beekeeper (Ordering information for this book is in the References section at the end of this manual) Find information about beekeeping from beekeeping journals at your local library or on the Internet If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping we recommend that you take a subscription toeither the American Bee Journal (httpwwwdadantcomjournal - phone 217-847-3324) orBee Culture (wwwbeeculturecom) Both are excellent journals that will teach you a lot aboutbeekeeping

Some of the questions in this manual are more difficult than others You may not be able to answer all of them until you have more experience in beekeeping Try to answer the questions then discuss the more difficult ones with your advisor

4

Understanding the Honey Bee Table of Contents Page

Beginning Beekeeping 4

Selecting an Advisor 4

History of Beekeeping 5

The Value of Honey Bees 6

Bee Stings 8

The Castes of Honey Bees 9

Races of Honey Bees 11

Honey and Honey Plants 12

Observing the Hive Entrance 14

Beeswax and Honeycomb 16

Beekeeping Equipment 19

Observing a Beekeeper 21

Demonstrations and Talks 23

Exhibits 25

Resources 25

Glossary 26

Beginning Beekeeping A master beekeeper who worked with honey bees for more than 50 years often said ldquoEvery time I look into a beehive I learn something new about the bees and I see another reason why I likethe bees so muchrdquo This 4-H Beekeeping Project will help you learn about bees and how to be a beekeeper It will not turn you into a ldquomasterrdquo beekeeper but it will help you get started

Selecting an Advisor The only experience most people have had with bees is stepping on one when running barefootthrough the grass You know of course that there is much more to bees than stings or you would not be taking this project However the ldquobee in the grassrdquo experience should have taught you a fact about honey bees they will sting if they think they are in danger Actual experience is the best way to learn about bees An experienced beekeeper is your best source of information about honey bees In fact it is almost impossible to start working withhoney bees without the advice of a helpful beekeeper Plan to watch and study a beekeeper (job shadowing) taking care of his or her hives The more you see the more you will understand Ask questions Do not be worried if the amount you have to learn seems overwhelming There is a lot to learn but you have time to learn it all Beekeeping can be a lifetime vocation and hobby You may find it helpful to purchase a journal to keep notes about what you are learning Then you can refer back to the journal when you are not with the beekeeper and in future years You can also use your journal to write questions that you think of so you will remember to ask them the nexttime you are working with the beekeeper You can help repay the beekeeper for sharing their time and expertise with you by offering your help with the many tasks involved in beekeeping

If you donrsquot already know a beekeeper your county Extension educator may know beekeepers who live in your county or nearby and who are interested in helping you with this project The Purdue Extension bee specialist and the Indiana beekeeping associations are also interested inhelping young people get started in beekeeping See the Resources section of this manual forcontacts

It is a good idea to learn what you can about bees before you meet your beekeeping advisor This will help you know what questions to begin asking You need a basic understanding of bees and their activities so you will know what your advisor is talking about and showing you

Try to read this manual (Understanding the Honey Bee) and complete the questions beforeyou meet with your advisor The 4-H manuals give you a little information about bees and beekeeping but you will need other resources to answer the questions in the manuals Most of the answers to these questions are in the book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition)This book is an excellent investment for the beginning beekeeper You will use it in all divisions of your 4-H Beekeeping Project and it will be useful as long as you are a beekeeper (Ordering information for this book is in the References section at the end of this manual) Find information about beekeeping from beekeeping journals at your local library or on the Internet If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping we recommend that you take a subscription toeither the American Bee Journal (httpwwwdadantcomjournal - phone 217-847-3324) orBee Culture (wwwbeeculturecom) Both are excellent journals that will teach you a lot aboutbeekeeping

Some of the questions in this manual are more difficult than others You may not be able to answer all of them until you have more experience in beekeeping Try to answer the questions then discuss the more difficult ones with your advisor

4

Beginning Beekeeping A master beekeeper who worked with honey bees for more than 50 years often said ldquoEvery time I look into a beehive I learn something new about the bees and I see another reason why I likethe bees so muchrdquo This 4-H Beekeeping Project will help you learn about bees and how to be a beekeeper It will not turn you into a ldquomasterrdquo beekeeper but it will help you get started

Selecting an Advisor The only experience most people have had with bees is stepping on one when running barefootthrough the grass You know of course that there is much more to bees than stings or you would not be taking this project However the ldquobee in the grassrdquo experience should have taught you a fact about honey bees they will sting if they think they are in danger Actual experience is the best way to learn about bees An experienced beekeeper is your best source of information about honey bees In fact it is almost impossible to start working withhoney bees without the advice of a helpful beekeeper Plan to watch and study a beekeeper (job shadowing) taking care of his or her hives The more you see the more you will understand Ask questions Do not be worried if the amount you have to learn seems overwhelming There is a lot to learn but you have time to learn it all Beekeeping can be a lifetime vocation and hobby You may find it helpful to purchase a journal to keep notes about what you are learning Then you can refer back to the journal when you are not with the beekeeper and in future years You can also use your journal to write questions that you think of so you will remember to ask them the nexttime you are working with the beekeeper You can help repay the beekeeper for sharing their time and expertise with you by offering your help with the many tasks involved in beekeeping

If you donrsquot already know a beekeeper your county Extension educator may know beekeepers who live in your county or nearby and who are interested in helping you with this project The Purdue Extension bee specialist and the Indiana beekeeping associations are also interested inhelping young people get started in beekeeping See the Resources section of this manual forcontacts

It is a good idea to learn what you can about bees before you meet your beekeeping advisor This will help you know what questions to begin asking You need a basic understanding of bees and their activities so you will know what your advisor is talking about and showing you

Try to read this manual (Understanding the Honey Bee) and complete the questions beforeyou meet with your advisor The 4-H manuals give you a little information about bees and beekeeping but you will need other resources to answer the questions in the manuals Most of the answers to these questions are in the book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition)This book is an excellent investment for the beginning beekeeper You will use it in all divisions of your 4-H Beekeeping Project and it will be useful as long as you are a beekeeper (Ordering information for this book is in the References section at the end of this manual) Find information about beekeeping from beekeeping journals at your local library or on the Internet If you are interested in learning more about beekeeping we recommend that you take a subscription toeither the American Bee Journal (httpwwwdadantcomjournal - phone 217-847-3324) orBee Culture (wwwbeeculturecom) Both are excellent journals that will teach you a lot aboutbeekeeping

Some of the questions in this manual are more difficult than others You may not be able to answer all of them until you have more experience in beekeeping Try to answer the questions then discuss the more difficult ones with your advisor

4

5

History of Beekeeping The Native Americans who lived in America prior to 1500 had never tasted honey This was because only people in Europe Asia and Africa had honey bees There were no honey bees in this country until they were brought here byboat in the sixteenth century about 50 years after Columbus first sighted America

Throughout history there has always been a close relationship between honey bees and people Drawings onrocks found in Spain that date back 9000 years show womentaking honey from wild bee colonies Early people tookhoney from hollow trees full of bees that they found in theforests In the autumn these early ldquobee-huntersrdquo would killor chase the bees away from their log homes so they couldtake all of the honey Honey was very important because at that time people had no other source of concentrated sugar As humans learned more about bees they built beehives ofclay pots straw baskets and wooden boxes They wanted to find ways of controlling their bees so that the colonies couldsurvive from year to year and still produce enough honey forthe needs of the beekeepers

In the sixteenth century scientists began studying the habits of honey bees hoping to find new ways to control them

However it was not until 1851 that beekeeping became a modern science In that year an American minister Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth discovered the importance of ldquobeespacerdquo Bee space is an open space of about 38 inch that the bees leave between their honeycombs so that they have roomto move and work Based on the ldquobee spacerdquo idea Langstrothbuilt the first modern beehive with frames of combs that could be easily removed from a wooden box His inventionled to many improvements in beekeeping equipmentToday beekeeping is more successful than it was before Langstrothrsquos movable-frame hive because the entire hive can be inspected and manipulated

The Value of Honey Bees Honey bees are valuable They contribute to the success of American agriculture and industry You probably already know one use of honey as a delicious sweetener on biscuitsbread and rolls Honey also has several other uses that makeit a very important product of American agriculture It is a main ingredient used in the baking and candy industriesAthletes may use honey for quick energy In the medical profession honey has been used for its antiseptic qualitiesin burn ointments and in the preparation of medicinesThroughout history honey has been used in the production of wines Honey winemdashmeademdashis still a very popular drink inmany parts of the world

Beeswax another product of the honey bee also has manyimportant uses The cosmetic industry uses beeswax in the preparation of products such as cold creams lotions rougesand lipsticks Beeswax is a basic ingredient in many candlesManufacturers of pharmaceuticals include beeswax in manypreparations of salves and ointments Dentists use it forimpression wax Foundries need it for molds in precisioncasting Beeswax is an ingredient in many types of polishesfor floors furniture and shoes Other uses include adhesivescrayons chewing gum inks basketball moldings ski waxthread wax ironing wax and archerrsquos bow wax

If there were no honey bees in this country American farmers could not produce nearly enough of some of yourfavorite foods such as apples peaches almonds andwatermelons This is because many plants must be pollinated to produce fruit Pollen grains must be transferred from themale parts of the flowers to the female parts to make a seedHoney bees do this by pollinating flowers In fact honeybees do 80 percent of all crop pollination

There are several reasons why honey bees are such excellentpollinators First they are very hard workers An individual bee may visit as many as a thousand flowers in one day During these flower visits the large hairy bodies of the bees easily pick up and hold many tiny pollen grains Secondbees visit only one type of flower on a particular trip Third beehives can be moved easily into areas where flowers needto be pollinated Because of these special bee qualitiesAmerican crop producers rent millions of colonies honeybees each year to pollinate their crops

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________

7

Read Chapter I ldquoSuddenly Yoursquore a Beekeeperrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees Then answer these questions

What basic steps should you follow to keep an unexpected swarm

Briefly describe the nine ldquoDirections for Hiving Your Packagerdquo

These crops must be pollinated by bees to produce food yields Almonds BlackberryApple CantaloupeBlueberry Clover Cherry Pear Cucumber Plum Peach Raspberry Persimmon SquashPumpkin Watermelon

These crops have higher yields if the honeybee visits them Eggplant Grape Lima Bean Okra Pepper Soybean Strawberry

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Bee Stings

A basic part of beekeeping is understanding and accepting the fact that you are going to be stung from time to time No matter howgood a beekeeper you become occasionally you will accidentallycrush a bee You may visit the hives when the bees are disturbed by a change in the weather by hunger or by something else beyond your control As a result you may be stung

A few people have serious reactions to bee stings They may have difficulty breathing after being stung or have some other verydangerous reaction If you are ever with a person who is severelyallergic to a sting take them to a doctor immediately It is very unusual for a person to have such a bad reaction to stings Formost people the sting of the bee is a momentary discomfort thatsays to slow down be more careful or in some way show greater respect for those honey bees Do not open a hive alone until youknow your reactions to bee stings If you are highly allergic to stings you should be particularly careful when working with beesand you should go see an allergist before you consider continuing with this project

The experienced beekeeper knows what to expect when they getstung and what to do to reduce the bad effects of the sting You donrsquot need to be afraid of the honey bee sting A sting always hurts Whether it is a first sting or the thousandth it will hurt but not too much A bee sting is like getting a shot from the doctor it will hurt for 20 seconds or so then the pain fades away

The beekeeper knows that only the worker bee stings Her stingeris barbed like a fish hook When she pushes her stinger into your skin it catches and pulls out of her body as she flies quickly away causing her to die soon after What she leaves in your skin is the barbed stinger attached to a poison sac Often part of the beersquos intestine is still attached to the stinger in your skin

You can scrape the stinger off the skin using a fingernail or hive tool Then puff smoke from a smoker or rub dirt on the area of the sting This covers the smell of the sting so other bees wonrsquot be disturbed

The experienced beekeeper also knows that swelling will probablydevelop around the spot where the sting was and may last a dayor so Although an ice treatment may reduce the swelling there is really not much to do for it except to get stung again It seemsthat the more a beekeeper is stung the less of a swelling reactionwill result So there is some good in being stung it will not be sobad when you are stung again

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

The Castes of Honey Bees There are three types (castes) of honey bees in every colony

bull Worker bees bull Drone bees bull A queen bee

These bees each take a different length of time to develop from the egg to the adult stage (see Figure 1)

Figure 1 The castes of bees take different lengths of time to develop from egg to adult

The drone bee is the largest and the worker bee is the smallest (Figure 2)

Read Chapter IV ldquoGetting to Know Your Beesrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees to learn about the kinds of honey bees

Describe the queen and tell how her body shape wing sizeand stinger are important to her work What do you find most interesting about the queen bee

Figure Three kinds of bees in a hive (drone queenworker)

Drone Queen Worker

It usually takes _______ days to develop a queen from the egg tothe adult stage She will remain a virgin queen for about _______ days Within _______ or _______ days after mating the queen begins to lay eggs Unfertilized eggs become drones Fertilizedeggs become worker bees

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

10

What is a drone and what does it do

List the duties of the worker bees

Why do some worker bees live to be six months old and othersdie after only six weeks

What are foragers and what do they do

How is honey made from nectar (Explain briefly)

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

The Value of Honey Bees Honey bees are valuable They contribute to the success of American agriculture and industry You probably already know one use of honey as a delicious sweetener on biscuitsbread and rolls Honey also has several other uses that makeit a very important product of American agriculture It is a main ingredient used in the baking and candy industriesAthletes may use honey for quick energy In the medical profession honey has been used for its antiseptic qualitiesin burn ointments and in the preparation of medicinesThroughout history honey has been used in the production of wines Honey winemdashmeademdashis still a very popular drink inmany parts of the world

Beeswax another product of the honey bee also has manyimportant uses The cosmetic industry uses beeswax in the preparation of products such as cold creams lotions rougesand lipsticks Beeswax is a basic ingredient in many candlesManufacturers of pharmaceuticals include beeswax in manypreparations of salves and ointments Dentists use it forimpression wax Foundries need it for molds in precisioncasting Beeswax is an ingredient in many types of polishesfor floors furniture and shoes Other uses include adhesivescrayons chewing gum inks basketball moldings ski waxthread wax ironing wax and archerrsquos bow wax

If there were no honey bees in this country American farmers could not produce nearly enough of some of yourfavorite foods such as apples peaches almonds andwatermelons This is because many plants must be pollinated to produce fruit Pollen grains must be transferred from themale parts of the flowers to the female parts to make a seedHoney bees do this by pollinating flowers In fact honeybees do 80 percent of all crop pollination

There are several reasons why honey bees are such excellentpollinators First they are very hard workers An individual bee may visit as many as a thousand flowers in one day During these flower visits the large hairy bodies of the bees easily pick up and hold many tiny pollen grains Secondbees visit only one type of flower on a particular trip Third beehives can be moved easily into areas where flowers needto be pollinated Because of these special bee qualitiesAmerican crop producers rent millions of colonies honeybees each year to pollinate their crops

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

7

Read Chapter I ldquoSuddenly Yoursquore a Beekeeperrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees Then answer these questions

What basic steps should you follow to keep an unexpected swarm

Briefly describe the nine ldquoDirections for Hiving Your Packagerdquo

These crops must be pollinated by bees to produce food yields Almonds BlackberryApple CantaloupeBlueberry Clover Cherry Pear Cucumber Plum Peach Raspberry Persimmon SquashPumpkin Watermelon

These crops have higher yields if the honeybee visits them Eggplant Grape Lima Bean Okra Pepper Soybean Strawberry

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Bee Stings

A basic part of beekeeping is understanding and accepting the fact that you are going to be stung from time to time No matter howgood a beekeeper you become occasionally you will accidentallycrush a bee You may visit the hives when the bees are disturbed by a change in the weather by hunger or by something else beyond your control As a result you may be stung

A few people have serious reactions to bee stings They may have difficulty breathing after being stung or have some other verydangerous reaction If you are ever with a person who is severelyallergic to a sting take them to a doctor immediately It is very unusual for a person to have such a bad reaction to stings Formost people the sting of the bee is a momentary discomfort thatsays to slow down be more careful or in some way show greater respect for those honey bees Do not open a hive alone until youknow your reactions to bee stings If you are highly allergic to stings you should be particularly careful when working with beesand you should go see an allergist before you consider continuing with this project

The experienced beekeeper knows what to expect when they getstung and what to do to reduce the bad effects of the sting You donrsquot need to be afraid of the honey bee sting A sting always hurts Whether it is a first sting or the thousandth it will hurt but not too much A bee sting is like getting a shot from the doctor it will hurt for 20 seconds or so then the pain fades away

The beekeeper knows that only the worker bee stings Her stingeris barbed like a fish hook When she pushes her stinger into your skin it catches and pulls out of her body as she flies quickly away causing her to die soon after What she leaves in your skin is the barbed stinger attached to a poison sac Often part of the beersquos intestine is still attached to the stinger in your skin

You can scrape the stinger off the skin using a fingernail or hive tool Then puff smoke from a smoker or rub dirt on the area of the sting This covers the smell of the sting so other bees wonrsquot be disturbed

The experienced beekeeper also knows that swelling will probablydevelop around the spot where the sting was and may last a dayor so Although an ice treatment may reduce the swelling there is really not much to do for it except to get stung again It seemsthat the more a beekeeper is stung the less of a swelling reactionwill result So there is some good in being stung it will not be sobad when you are stung again

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

The Castes of Honey Bees There are three types (castes) of honey bees in every colony

bull Worker bees bull Drone bees bull A queen bee

These bees each take a different length of time to develop from the egg to the adult stage (see Figure 1)

Figure 1 The castes of bees take different lengths of time to develop from egg to adult

The drone bee is the largest and the worker bee is the smallest (Figure 2)

Read Chapter IV ldquoGetting to Know Your Beesrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees to learn about the kinds of honey bees

Describe the queen and tell how her body shape wing sizeand stinger are important to her work What do you find most interesting about the queen bee

Figure Three kinds of bees in a hive (drone queenworker)

Drone Queen Worker

It usually takes _______ days to develop a queen from the egg tothe adult stage She will remain a virgin queen for about _______ days Within _______ or _______ days after mating the queen begins to lay eggs Unfertilized eggs become drones Fertilizedeggs become worker bees

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

10

What is a drone and what does it do

List the duties of the worker bees

Why do some worker bees live to be six months old and othersdie after only six weeks

What are foragers and what do they do

How is honey made from nectar (Explain briefly)

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

7

Read Chapter I ldquoSuddenly Yoursquore a Beekeeperrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees Then answer these questions

What basic steps should you follow to keep an unexpected swarm

Briefly describe the nine ldquoDirections for Hiving Your Packagerdquo

These crops must be pollinated by bees to produce food yields Almonds BlackberryApple CantaloupeBlueberry Clover Cherry Pear Cucumber Plum Peach Raspberry Persimmon SquashPumpkin Watermelon

These crops have higher yields if the honeybee visits them Eggplant Grape Lima Bean Okra Pepper Soybean Strawberry

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Bee Stings

A basic part of beekeeping is understanding and accepting the fact that you are going to be stung from time to time No matter howgood a beekeeper you become occasionally you will accidentallycrush a bee You may visit the hives when the bees are disturbed by a change in the weather by hunger or by something else beyond your control As a result you may be stung

A few people have serious reactions to bee stings They may have difficulty breathing after being stung or have some other verydangerous reaction If you are ever with a person who is severelyallergic to a sting take them to a doctor immediately It is very unusual for a person to have such a bad reaction to stings Formost people the sting of the bee is a momentary discomfort thatsays to slow down be more careful or in some way show greater respect for those honey bees Do not open a hive alone until youknow your reactions to bee stings If you are highly allergic to stings you should be particularly careful when working with beesand you should go see an allergist before you consider continuing with this project

The experienced beekeeper knows what to expect when they getstung and what to do to reduce the bad effects of the sting You donrsquot need to be afraid of the honey bee sting A sting always hurts Whether it is a first sting or the thousandth it will hurt but not too much A bee sting is like getting a shot from the doctor it will hurt for 20 seconds or so then the pain fades away

The beekeeper knows that only the worker bee stings Her stingeris barbed like a fish hook When she pushes her stinger into your skin it catches and pulls out of her body as she flies quickly away causing her to die soon after What she leaves in your skin is the barbed stinger attached to a poison sac Often part of the beersquos intestine is still attached to the stinger in your skin

You can scrape the stinger off the skin using a fingernail or hive tool Then puff smoke from a smoker or rub dirt on the area of the sting This covers the smell of the sting so other bees wonrsquot be disturbed

The experienced beekeeper also knows that swelling will probablydevelop around the spot where the sting was and may last a dayor so Although an ice treatment may reduce the swelling there is really not much to do for it except to get stung again It seemsthat the more a beekeeper is stung the less of a swelling reactionwill result So there is some good in being stung it will not be sobad when you are stung again

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

The Castes of Honey Bees There are three types (castes) of honey bees in every colony

bull Worker bees bull Drone bees bull A queen bee

These bees each take a different length of time to develop from the egg to the adult stage (see Figure 1)

Figure 1 The castes of bees take different lengths of time to develop from egg to adult

The drone bee is the largest and the worker bee is the smallest (Figure 2)

Read Chapter IV ldquoGetting to Know Your Beesrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees to learn about the kinds of honey bees

Describe the queen and tell how her body shape wing sizeand stinger are important to her work What do you find most interesting about the queen bee

Figure Three kinds of bees in a hive (drone queenworker)

Drone Queen Worker

It usually takes _______ days to develop a queen from the egg tothe adult stage She will remain a virgin queen for about _______ days Within _______ or _______ days after mating the queen begins to lay eggs Unfertilized eggs become drones Fertilizedeggs become worker bees

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

10

What is a drone and what does it do

List the duties of the worker bees

Why do some worker bees live to be six months old and othersdie after only six weeks

What are foragers and what do they do

How is honey made from nectar (Explain briefly)

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

Bee Stings

A basic part of beekeeping is understanding and accepting the fact that you are going to be stung from time to time No matter howgood a beekeeper you become occasionally you will accidentallycrush a bee You may visit the hives when the bees are disturbed by a change in the weather by hunger or by something else beyond your control As a result you may be stung

A few people have serious reactions to bee stings They may have difficulty breathing after being stung or have some other verydangerous reaction If you are ever with a person who is severelyallergic to a sting take them to a doctor immediately It is very unusual for a person to have such a bad reaction to stings Formost people the sting of the bee is a momentary discomfort thatsays to slow down be more careful or in some way show greater respect for those honey bees Do not open a hive alone until youknow your reactions to bee stings If you are highly allergic to stings you should be particularly careful when working with beesand you should go see an allergist before you consider continuing with this project

The experienced beekeeper knows what to expect when they getstung and what to do to reduce the bad effects of the sting You donrsquot need to be afraid of the honey bee sting A sting always hurts Whether it is a first sting or the thousandth it will hurt but not too much A bee sting is like getting a shot from the doctor it will hurt for 20 seconds or so then the pain fades away

The beekeeper knows that only the worker bee stings Her stingeris barbed like a fish hook When she pushes her stinger into your skin it catches and pulls out of her body as she flies quickly away causing her to die soon after What she leaves in your skin is the barbed stinger attached to a poison sac Often part of the beersquos intestine is still attached to the stinger in your skin

You can scrape the stinger off the skin using a fingernail or hive tool Then puff smoke from a smoker or rub dirt on the area of the sting This covers the smell of the sting so other bees wonrsquot be disturbed

The experienced beekeeper also knows that swelling will probablydevelop around the spot where the sting was and may last a dayor so Although an ice treatment may reduce the swelling there is really not much to do for it except to get stung again It seemsthat the more a beekeeper is stung the less of a swelling reactionwill result So there is some good in being stung it will not be sobad when you are stung again

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

The Castes of Honey Bees There are three types (castes) of honey bees in every colony

bull Worker bees bull Drone bees bull A queen bee

These bees each take a different length of time to develop from the egg to the adult stage (see Figure 1)

Figure 1 The castes of bees take different lengths of time to develop from egg to adult

The drone bee is the largest and the worker bee is the smallest (Figure 2)

Read Chapter IV ldquoGetting to Know Your Beesrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees to learn about the kinds of honey bees

Describe the queen and tell how her body shape wing sizeand stinger are important to her work What do you find most interesting about the queen bee

Figure Three kinds of bees in a hive (drone queenworker)

Drone Queen Worker

It usually takes _______ days to develop a queen from the egg tothe adult stage She will remain a virgin queen for about _______ days Within _______ or _______ days after mating the queen begins to lay eggs Unfertilized eggs become drones Fertilizedeggs become worker bees

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

10

What is a drone and what does it do

List the duties of the worker bees

Why do some worker bees live to be six months old and othersdie after only six weeks

What are foragers and what do they do

How is honey made from nectar (Explain briefly)

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

The Castes of Honey Bees There are three types (castes) of honey bees in every colony

bull Worker bees bull Drone bees bull A queen bee

These bees each take a different length of time to develop from the egg to the adult stage (see Figure 1)

Figure 1 The castes of bees take different lengths of time to develop from egg to adult

The drone bee is the largest and the worker bee is the smallest (Figure 2)

Read Chapter IV ldquoGetting to Know Your Beesrdquo in The New Starting Right with Bees to learn about the kinds of honey bees

Describe the queen and tell how her body shape wing sizeand stinger are important to her work What do you find most interesting about the queen bee

Figure Three kinds of bees in a hive (drone queenworker)

Drone Queen Worker

It usually takes _______ days to develop a queen from the egg tothe adult stage She will remain a virgin queen for about _______ days Within _______ or _______ days after mating the queen begins to lay eggs Unfertilized eggs become drones Fertilizedeggs become worker bees

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

10

What is a drone and what does it do

List the duties of the worker bees

Why do some worker bees live to be six months old and othersdie after only six weeks

What are foragers and what do they do

How is honey made from nectar (Explain briefly)

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

10

What is a drone and what does it do

List the duties of the worker bees

Why do some worker bees live to be six months old and othersdie after only six weeks

What are foragers and what do they do

How is honey made from nectar (Explain briefly)

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

11

Races of Honey Bees Like people bees from different parts of the world look and act differently Variations in color size and habits are the beesrsquo way of adapting to the climate and geography of an area Today there are three different races of honey bees commonly found in America All of them were originally brought here from other countries These are not ldquopurerdquo races because they have mingledwith each other There is great variability in bees but each racehas some particular characteristics

Italian Bees These bees were imported from Italy They are the most popular bees in the United States because of their excellent habits Italian bees are usually gentle and are not inclined to swarm (leavethe hive in a group to start a new colony) They maintain a higcolony population from early spring until late fall and producebeautiful white wax cappings on their honey Italian bees are generally yellow in color They are a little more likely to robhoney from other hives than the two races listed below

h

Carniolan Bees The Carniolan bee is almost black in color This race of bee originated in Austria Bulgaria central Europe HungaryRomania and YugoslaviaThey are the second most popular honey bees in this country Like the Caucasian bees the Carniolans arevery quiet and gentle Carniolan bees tend to increase their colonypopulation very rapidly in the spring but the increase in colonysize can make them more likely to swarm

Africanized Honey Bees An African race of bees was imported into South America in 1956 These bees are highly defensivemdashor you could call them aggressive They are much more likely to sting than other bees Once disturbed they will chase people and animals that comenear their hive However they are not likely to sting when they are foraging on flowers away from the hive Africanized bees are now present in some of the southern United States but arenot well adapted to the cold winters of the Midwest They have some traits that make them well adapted to the tropics such as atendency for the colony to grow very rapidly and to swarm oftenIt is not known whether Africanized bees will adapt to our climate by mating with our European races of bees If this happens theymay become less aggressive

If you have a hive of bees that sting too much even though youare careful not to be rough with them it is best to replace thequeen They will slowly become gentler

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

1

Honey and Honey Plants People have always valued honey the primary food of the bees Men and women use it for many different purposes as a preventative and cure of disease as a healthier substitute forsugar as an ingredient in baking and as a favorite sweet

Honey begins as nectar a sweet liquid secreted in flowers Nectar is composed almost entirely of sugar and water It is produced by plants to attract bees While collecting the nectar a bee picks up pollen with its body hairs As the bee visits another flower for more nectar some of this pollen rubs off This transfer of pollen causes the fertilization of the second flower and seeds are produced Nectar is what the flower pays to the bee for theservice of being pollinated

Nectar usually collects in a tiny pool inside the flower The amount of nectar the flower produces depends on the type offlower the weather the time of day and the amount of recent rainfall The visiting bee a field worker sucks up as much of this nectar as she can using her long tongue (proboscis)

The honey bee has two stomachs a honey stomach and a realstomach The honey stomach is used only for the temporary storage of honey It is in front of the real stomach where the process of digestion takes place (Figure 4) The nectar sucked up by the honey beersquos proboscis is held in the beersquos honey stomach while she flies back to her hive At the hive the field worker transfers the nectar she has collected to three or more ldquohouserdquo bees who suck the nectar from the mouth of the field bee

Main parts of the digestive circulatory and nervous systems of the worker honeybee [Drawing from The Hive and the Honeybee by permission of Roy A Grout (Grout Roy A ed 175 5th ed Dadant and Sons Hamilton Illinois)]

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

1

The house bee changes the nectar into unripe honey She does this by moving the nectar about in her mouth and mixing it withchemicals called enzymes After the mixing process which takes about 20 minutes the house bee deposits the unripe honey in acell for ripening The new honey ripens through the process of evaporation Just as water left in a glass will eventually evaporateinto the air extra water will evaporate from unripe honey that is left to sit in the cells Then ripe honey is all that remains The time it takes for the evaporation process depends upon factors such asthe type of nectar the air temperature and the humidity The bees often fan their wings to speed the evaporation

The honey is ripe when it is less than one-fifth water Once the honey is fully ripe house bees cover it with a thin layer of waxThis protects the honey The wax covering keeps the honey fresh and safe until it is needed by hungry bees or beekeepers

Remember that the starting point in the production of honey is inflowers that produce nectar A beekeeper needs a good knowledge of plants and their flowers An understanding of honey plants the plants that produce nectar used by bees to make honey helps a beekeeper know where to put the hives The list below shows plants that are important for bees in Indiana Many of the plantslisted do not make much surplus honey because of the durationof the bloom or conditions in a particular year The best way todetermine which plants bees will use to make honey is to watchthem The following list will help you know which flowers towatch

Honey PlantsThe following list (courtesy of Dr G Hunt Purdue University) gives you an idea of the types of flowers that attract bees The best way to see what your bees like is to watch them

bull apple blossom (and other bull clover small white (dutch) fruit trees) yellow sweet and white sweet

bull asters (in fall especially (major honey source) the small white frostweed bull currant and gooseberry aster) bull dandelion (important in the

bull basswood spring because it blooms early) bull black locust bull goldenrod (late summer to fall bull blackberry different kinds) bull blue vine or climbing bull ground ivy

milkweed (mostly in one bull mint area of southwestern bull raspberry Indiana) bull silver maple red maple

bull blueberry (bees are very (maples mostly important for important for blueberry pollen not honey) pollination) bull tulip poplar (tulip tree the

bull box elder state flower)

Many exotic plants in peoplersquos gardens also attract bees

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

14

Observing the Hive Entrance The hive entrance of a honey bee colony is very much like thefront door of your house Just as you go through it on your wayto and from school the field bees must exit and enter through thehive entrance on their trips to visit flowers By watching a hiversquos entrance beekeepers can learn a great deal about the levels ofactivity of their bees Observing the hive entrance not only tellsabout the honey plants in bloom that are attracting the field beesbut it also tells about the work going on inside the hive The more nectar and other supplies the field bees bring in the busier thehouse bees will be storing away and using supplies to build newcomb and to care for the young bees

What is happening at the hiversquos entrance can also tell beekeepers about the health of their bees For example

bull If you are too hot in your house you may sit outside your front door Bees do the same thing

bull When you are cold you close the front door Although the bees cannot close their hive entrance they will remain inside away from the entrance when they are cold

bull When you do not feel well you stay inside to rest Sick bees do not leave their hives either However if they are very sick

they will crawl out of the hive and die

Observe the entrance to a hive watching closely for at least 15minutes at least once every three weeks Do this at different times of the day Sit as close to the entrance as possible so that you have a clear view of the activities taking place Do not sit in front of the entrance The bees will become confused if they see you in front and wonrsquot know where to go For each observation period write a report of what you saw Describe what they were doing there and what if anything they were carrying in or out of the hive Makecertain to include the information listed below in your reports

bull the date and time of day of your observation bull the weather conditions while you were watching bull a summary of the activities you observed at the hive

entrance bull the types and approximate number of bees you saw

Staple your completed report to the back of this manual

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

15

Fill out the chart below to identify the flowers blooming in yourarea Begin your observations early in the spring when flowersstart blooming and continue until late autumn when you can findno more blooming flowers Remember that yoursquoll find blooms onmany trees and vines as well as the smaller plants you usuallycall flowers Bees will fly a mile or two if they do not find whatthey need near their hive

Name of Plant Description (Type of plant size ofbloom color of bloom etc)

Location Blooming Dates(from ndash to)

Bees on Blooms (If so describetheir activities)

Bees get most of the nectar they use from wildflowers especiallyclover in Indiana It is important to know how much wild land is within a mile of your house Visit these patches and watch for bees

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

1

Beeswax and Honeycomb The honeycomb is the inner house of honey bees It is whereyoung bees are raised and where the hiversquos food is stored Comb is built out of beeswax which is produced only by young workerbees Glands on the undersides of the bodies of these young beescan produce tiny pieces of wax Worker bees chew these small flakes of wax and work them to form the comb Generally the newly constructed comb is beautifully white in color It may be light yellow when bees are getting nectar from goldenrod or othesimilar flowers The comb becomes darker over time because as each new bee is born it sheds its skin and this becomes part of thcell Also bees collect propolis which can make the comb darke

The comb (Figure 5) consists of many small six-sided tubes(cells) built side by side The floor of the cells slopes slightly downward to the bottom and is shaped like a three-sided pyramidpointing away from the cell opening This small slope is necessarso that the substances put into the cell do not slide out of it

There are three different cell sizes The large drone bee is hatchedfrom an egg and grows to adulthood in the larger of the two cells (drone cell) The smaller worker bee grows in the slightly smalleworker cell Worker cells that are full of eggs developing larvae and pupae are usually found in the central part of the comb (brooarea) The third cell size is the queen cell

Bordering the brood area is a narrow strip of worker cells wherepollen is stored Pollen is an important food for the larva growingin the brood area cells because it is the source of the beesrsquo proteiand because it is rich in fat The field bees collect pollen in the form of tiny pellets from flowers and carry it back to the hive byputting it in small basketlike pouches on their back legs This pollen varies in color depending on the type of flower from whicit came

A cell is never completely filled with pollen (Figure 6) Bees generally pack the pollen in a cell until it is about 34 fullSometimes they add a little honey to the pollen to preserve itThis makes the pollen look wet This storage method maintains the freshness of the pollen for a long time The outer edges of comb beyond the narrow pollen storage area are used for ripeninand storing honey

Between each comb the bees leave a space about 38-inch wideIf the space between combs is much wider or narrower the bees will close it up with wax and bee glue

r

er

y

r

d

n

h

g

Figure 5

Slope of cells from front to middle of comb

The economy of the hexagonal shape for making honeycomb cells

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

17

It was the discovery of this important space the bee spaceby Langstroth that led to the development of the modernbeehive In the modern beehive all the frames of combare specially built so that they are surrounded on all sidesby bee space Because of this the bees do not clog up thearea between the frames of comb Then the frames can be taken out and put back into the hive easily

Besides the honeycomb you are certain to find anotherimportant substance in the hive This is bee glue (propolis) Propolis is a very sticky brown material thatthe bees use for many purposes holding down the hivelid covering the inside walls of the hive fastening framesstrengthening comb plugging holes and sometimesnarrowing the entrance Field bees gather propolis fromvarious plant buds picking up such sticky substances aspitch from pine trees

Name three different substances that can be found in the cells of honeycomb

1 ___________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________

Draw a simple picture of honeycomb

Why is it true that the older the comb is the darker it is

Figure

Stored honey

Stored pollen ( pellets)

Egg

Larva

Larva

Larva

Prepupa sealed cell

Pupa sealed cell

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

1

Describe how bees build comb

Why is a drone cell larger than a worker cell

What is the brood and where is it found

Why is the brood area surrounded by pollen storage cells

Give five uses of propolis

1 ___________________________________________________

2 ___________________________________________________

3 ___________________________________________________

4 ___________________________________________________

5 ___________________________________________________

Name another substance besides pine pitch that honey bees couldprobably use as propolis

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

Beekeeping Equipment Now that you have a good basic understanding of honey bees andtheir activities you are ready to begin gathering the equipmentthat you will need to operate your own beehive in Division IIAs in any business you will find that you must make an initialinvestment to get the equipment to begin beekeeping However an advantage of beekeeping is that the amount of equipment youneed is limited And once you have it assuming that you take good care of it your later expenses will be small If you are notsure you are interested enough in beekeeping to purchase yourown equipment you may be able to lease a hive from a beekeeper Check with your county Extension educator the bee specialist at Purdue or the Indiana bee associations listed on the ldquoPurdueUniversity Beehive Websiterdquo for referrals to beekeepers who are willing to lease a hive to a 4-Hrsquoer You can find this Web site listed in the Resources section at the end of this manual

For a good explanation of most of the equipment you will needread Chapter 2 ldquoBefore You Start Equipmentrdquo and Chapter 5 ldquoYour First Honey Flow Other Equipmentrdquo in The New StartingRight with Bees

A valuable tool of the beekeeper is a hive tool This is a chisel-like instrument slightly curved at one end It enables thebeekeeper to pry up hive lids supers or frames glued tightlytogether with propolis It is also a handy tool because you can useit as a scraper and a nail puller

A beekeeper must take care to wear suitable clothing First you should have a good pair of leather gloves This is especially important for the beginning beekeeper until they are experiencedenough to know how to work without angering the bees and toknow when the bees are unlikely to sting Many beekeepers preferspecial beekeeping gloves that cover the forearm past the elbow Others like to wear regular gloves along with gauntlets which aresleeves with elastic in each end extending from the wrist to abovethe elbow All the beekeeperrsquos clothing should be white or light in color It should not be made of rough wool-like material Bees are angered by dark-colored andor fuzzy material especially if itsmells like an animal

The experienced beekeeper is careful to cover his or her ankleswith light-colored socks Because ankles are on about the samelevel as a hive entrance they are often attacked first by angrybees Even gentle bees may crawl up your pants by mistake

1

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

0

The experienced beekeeper will fasten down pant legs using bicycleclips large rubber bands or string to keep bees from crawling up their pant-legs Many beekeepers like to wear white coveralls to protect theirclothes and to give them added warmth on cooler days in early spring orlate autumn

Beekeeping equipment is available from several convenient sourcesThere are several bee supply manufacturing companies in neighboringstates Write to one asking for their current supply catalog and the addresses of equipment dealers in Indiana (There may be one near you)From the catalog you can order equipment through the mail Beekeepingequipment manufacturers are listed at the Purdue University Bee Hivesite See the Resources section for more information

You will need the following equipment to start your hive

Item

Bottom board and entrance cleat Hive body and frames Extracting supers with frames Foundation Inner cover Hive cover Queen excluder Smoker Bee veil Hive tool Gloves Long sleeve white shirt Overalls

Number Needed

1

2

2-3

1 sheet per frame

1

1

1 (optional) 1

1

1

1 pair 1 (recommended) 1 (recommended)

Complete the beekeeping inventory to have a record of your purchases

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

1

Observing a Beekeeper As you read at the beginning of this manual your best sourceof information about beekeeping is the experienced beekeeper Having almost completed Beekeeping I you now understandenough about the honey bee and the equipment of the beekeeperto know what questions to ask your advisor

Carefully observe your beekeeper advisor as they check a beehiveWrite a description of each step in the process of ldquogoing throughrdquo a beehive beginning with the preparation of the necessaryequipmentmdashlighting the smoker putting on the veil etcmdashand ending with the clean-up procedures that follow such work

Beekeeping InventoryDate Obtained Item Number Cost

Total What is meant by the term ldquomovable-frame hiverdquo

What is meant by the term ldquocrossed combrdquo

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Why is it necessary to have a hive stand bricks or somethingsimilar to keep the bottom board off the ground

Explain how the frames are built to maintain the ldquobee spacerdquo

What are the advantages of using comb foundation in your hive

What is the function of a smoker Name some materials that would make good smoker fuel by burning slowly with muchsmoke

What is the function of the hive tool

How does a queen excluder work and what is its purpose

Explain the various types of clothing a beekeeper must wear whenworking with hives

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

Demonstrations and Talks Now that you have begun learning about bees you might want to share your knowledge withothers at a 4-H club meeting or county or state fair An action demonstration is an excellent way to teach others about bees

Action Demonstration Guidelines What is an action demonstration or action demo

An action demo is a fun way to share with others what you have learned in your 4-H projectItrsquos a kind of ldquoshow and tellrdquo but with more action An action demo is not like a regular demonstration where the audience sits and listens to a prepared talk An action demo lets the audience get involved

Action demonstrations can be given anywhere there are a lot of people such as a county or statefair shopping mall street fair or any 4-H event Your job as a demonstrator is to interest the audience in your topic so that they stop and learn something new or try their hand at what youare doing

How do you choose a topic for your action demo

An action demo can be on almost any subject The topic should be something that you enjoy andare knowledgeable about Consider the following questions when choosing a topic

bull Can you complete the action demonstration in 3-5 minutes bull Can it easily be repeated over and over again to fill the assigned time bull Is your action demo showing something that would interest the general public bull Is there a good way to involve your audience in your action demo (ldquohands-onrdquo or answering questions)

bull Can the supplies for the ldquohands-onrdquo section be used over and over again or will they need to be replaced (Remember if the materials must be replaced it will cost more to do

the demonstration)

How can you get the audience involved

The first thing you need to do is be enthusiastic and attract peoplersquos attention as they walk by your table You might have a colorful tablecloth or poster to spark their interest You might ask them a question such as ldquoWould you like to play this gamerdquo or ldquoHave you ever made pretzels Would you like to tryrdquo The best way to attract their attention is to have people around yourtable doing something People love to do hands-on activities so once you get a few people atyour table they will attract others For more information on action demonstrations see V-4-H-28

Involve your audience by having them bull do what you are doing bull do a ldquohands-onrdquo section bull judge the quality of various items bull play a game bull answer questions

Remember the key to a good action demo is getting your audience involved

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

4

Action Demo Checklist

Topic Yes No Was the topic interesting to the general public causing them to stop watch or participate Did the topic stimulate questions from the audience Was the topic of suitable length Did the topic include something ldquohands-onrdquo for the audience to do Organizing the Content Yes No Was the topic organized into short ldquoshow-and-tellrdquo segments that were done repeatedlyWere segments presented in logical order Were segments explained so that the audience understood why Was it evident that the 4-Hrsquoer was knowledgeable about the subject and could answer questions Did visuals pictures posters or actual objects clarify the important ideas Presenting the Demonstration Yes No Did the 4-Hrsquoer seem enthusiastic Did the 4-Hrsquoer encourage the audience to become involved in the demonstration Did the 4-Hrsquoer speak directly to the audience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show evidence of practice and experience Did the 4-Hrsquoer show that shehe enjoys talking to the audience

Did the 4-Hrsquoer show enthusiasm friendliness and a business-like manner Did the 4-Hrsquoer tell about what they learned through this 4-H project

Comments

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

5

Exhibits You should get information about the 4-H Beekeeping exhibit from your county Extension educator Indiana State Fair guidelines are available at the 4-H Web site (wwwfour-hpurdueedu)

Judges will evaluate your exhibit based on thefollowing items

1 originality2 organization of materials3 accuracy of information4 interest and value of exhibit 5 depth of knowledge illustrated6 attractiveness neatness

Resources Recommended Book The New Starting Right with Bees (21st Edition) This book available from the publisher AI Root 623 West Liberty

Medina OH 44256 Phone 800-289-7668

Bee Hive a Purdue University Web site There are many beekeeping resources listed at the site

httpwwwentmpurdueeduentomologyresearchbee

Choose ldquogetting startedrdquo under ldquoBeekeeping Informationrdquo You will find links to Indiana beekeeping associations general information sites local suppliers contacts journals sources forbooks videos and slides and more If you do not have Internet access check your local libraryor visit your county Cooperative Extension Service office

Note If you do not have access to the Internet you can ask your county Extension educator to help you access this information Many public libraries also have computers you may use

Glossary Afterswarms ndash Swarms that leave a colony with a virgin queen after a swarm of the same season

has already left the hive

American foulbrood ndash An extremely contagious disease of bees that affects them in the larval (worm) stage of development caused by the bacteria Bacillus larvae

Apiary ndash A collection of colonies of honey bees also the yard or place where bees are kept

Apiculture ndash Beekeeping

Bee escape ndash A device to remove bees from supers or buildings constructed to allow bees to pass through in one direction but to prevent their return

Beehive ndash A box or other structure for housing a colony of honey bees

Bee space ndash An open space (14 to 38 inch) in which bees build no comb andor deposit aminimum of propolis

Beeswax ndash The wax secreted by honey bees from eight glands within the underside of the abdomen and used in building their combs

Bee veil ndash A wire screen or cloth enclosure worn over the head and neck for protection from bee stings

Bottom board ndash The floor of a beehive

Box hive ndash A plain box without movable frames used for housing a colony of honey bees

Brace comb ndash Small pieces of comb built between combs and the hive

Brood ndash Young developing bees found in their cells in the egg larval and pupa stages of development

Burr comb ndash Small pieces of wax built upon a comb or upon a wooden part of a hive because more than 38 inch space was left

Castes ndash The different kinds of adult bees in a colony workers drone and queen

Cell ndash A single compartment in a honeycomb in which brood is reared or food is stored

Chunk honey ndash A piece or pieces of comb honey packed in a jar with liquid extracted honey

Clarification ndash The removal of foreign particles from liquid honey or wax by the straining filtering or settling process

Cluster ndash The hanging together of a large group of honey bees one upon another

Colony ndash A community of honey bees having a queen thousands of workers and during part of the year a number of drones

Comb foundation ndash Thin sheets of beeswax or plastic used to form a base on which the bees can construct a complete comb of worker cells

Cut comb honey ndash Squares of honey in the sealed comb in which it was produced cut from a shallow super-size frame of sealed honeycomb and then packaged in clear plastic

Drifting ndash The return of field bees to colonies other than their own

7

Drone ndash A male honey bee

Dysentery ndash A disease of honey bees causing an accumulation of excess waste products that are released in and near the hive

European foulbrood ndash An infectious disease affecting honeybees in the larval (worm) stage of development caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pluton

Extracted honey ndash Liquid honey

Extractor ndash A machine using centrifugal force for removing honey from the comb without destroying the combs

Field bees ndash Worker bees usually at least 10 days old that leave the hive to collect nectar pollen water and propolis

Frame ndash Four strips of wood joined at the end to form a rectangular device for holding honeycomb

Granulated honey ndash Honey that has crystallized changing from a liquid to a solid

Hive ndash Worker bees furnished by man As a verb to put a swarm in a hive

Hive body ndash A single wooden rim or shell that holds a set of frames When used for the brood nest it is called a brood chamber When used above the brood nest for honey storage it is called a super

Hive cover ndash The roof or lid of a hive

Hive tool ndash A metal tool with a scraping surface at one end and a blade at the other used to open hives pry frames apart clean hives etc

Honeycomb ndash The mass of six-sided cells of wax built by honey bees in which they rear their young and store their food

Honey flow ndash A time when nectar is plentiful and bees produce and store surplus honey

House bee ndash A young worker bee 1 day to 2 weeks old that works only inside the hive

Inner cover ndash A thin wooden board placed just beneath the hive cover for added protection and insulation from the elements and to keep the hive lid from being glued to the hive body

Job shadowing ndash Learning from others by following watching and studying what they do in their jobs

Larva ndash The grublike or wormlike immature form of the honey bee in its second stage of metamorphosis

Metamorphosis ndash The series of changes in form through which an insect passes egg to larva to pupa to adult

Movable frame ndash A frame of comb that can be easily removed from the hive It is constructed to maintain a proper bee space which prevents the bees from attaching comb or fastening it toosecurely with propolis

Nectar ndash A sweet liquid secreted by plants usually in their flowers and converted into honey by bees

Nosema ndash An infectious disease of the adult honey bee that infects the mid-gut or stomach It is caused by a protozoan parasite Symptoms of this disease closely resemble those ofdysentery

Observation hive ndash A hive made mostly of glass or clear plastic to permit observation of the bees at work

Pesticide ndash A general name for materials used to kill undesirable insects plants rodents or other pests

Pollen ndash Dustlike grains formed in the flowers of plants in which the male elements areproduced Honey bees use pollen as a protein food for their young

Proboscis ndash The tongue of a honey bee

Propolis ndash A kind of glue or resin collected by the bees for use in closing up cracks anchoring hive parts etc It is also called bee glue

Pupa ndash The third stage of a developing bee during which it is inactive and sealed in its cell The adult form is recognizable during this stage

Queen excluder ndash A device usually constructed of wood and wire or sheet zinc having openings large enough for the passage of worker bees but too small for the passage of larger drone and queen bees

Robber bee ndash A field bee from one colony that takes honey from another colony

Sacbrood ndash A slightly contagious disease of brood that is caused by a virus

Sealed brood ndash Brood mostly in the pupa stage that has been capped or sealed in cells by the bees with a somewhat porous capping of wax

Section comb honey ndash Honey in the sealed comb that was produced in thin wooden frames called sections

Smoker ndash A device that burns slow-burning fuels to generate smoke for the purpose of keeping the bees calm while working in their hive

Solar wax extractor ndash A glass-covered box for melting down beeswax by the heat of the sun

Super ndash A receptacle in which bees store surplus honey placed ldquooverrdquo (above) the brood chamber As a verb to add supers in expectation of a honey flow

Swarm ndash A large group of worker bees drones and a queen that leaves the mother colony to establish a new colony

Travel stain ndash The darkened appearance on the surface of comb honey when left in the hive for some time caused by bees tracking propolis over the surface as they walk over the comb

Uniting ndash The combining of two or more colonies to form one large colony

Virgin queen ndash An unmated queen

Wax moth ndash A moth whose larvae feed on and destroy honeycomb

Revised 706

It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service David C Petritz Director that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and

facilities without regard to race color sex religion national origin age marital status parental status sexual orientation or disability Purdue University is an Affirmative Action

institution This material may be available in alternative formats 1-888-EXT-INFO bull httpwwwcespurdueedumarketing

7

Drone ndash A male honey bee

Dysentery ndash A disease of honey bees causing an accumulation of excess waste products that are released in and near the hive

European foulbrood ndash An infectious disease affecting honeybees in the larval (worm) stage of development caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pluton

Extracted honey ndash Liquid honey

Extractor ndash A machine using centrifugal force for removing honey from the comb without destroying the combs

Field bees ndash Worker bees usually at least 10 days old that leave the hive to collect nectar pollen water and propolis

Frame ndash Four strips of wood joined at the end to form a rectangular device for holding honeycomb

Granulated honey ndash Honey that has crystallized changing from a liquid to a solid

Hive ndash Worker bees furnished by man As a verb to put a swarm in a hive

Hive body ndash A single wooden rim or shell that holds a set of frames When used for the brood nest it is called a brood chamber When used above the brood nest for honey storage it is called a super

Hive cover ndash The roof or lid of a hive

Hive tool ndash A metal tool with a scraping surface at one end and a blade at the other used to open hives pry frames apart clean hives etc

Honeycomb ndash The mass of six-sided cells of wax built by honey bees in which they rear their young and store their food

Honey flow ndash A time when nectar is plentiful and bees produce and store surplus honey

House bee ndash A young worker bee 1 day to 2 weeks old that works only inside the hive

Inner cover ndash A thin wooden board placed just beneath the hive cover for added protection and insulation from the elements and to keep the hive lid from being glued to the hive body

Job shadowing ndash Learning from others by following watching and studying what they do in their jobs

Larva ndash The grublike or wormlike immature form of the honey bee in its second stage of metamorphosis

Metamorphosis ndash The series of changes in form through which an insect passes egg to larva to pupa to adult

Movable frame ndash A frame of comb that can be easily removed from the hive It is constructed to maintain a proper bee space which prevents the bees from attaching comb or fastening it toosecurely with propolis

Nectar ndash A sweet liquid secreted by plants usually in their flowers and converted into honey by bees

Nosema ndash An infectious disease of the adult honey bee that infects the mid-gut or stomach It is caused by a protozoan parasite Symptoms of this disease closely resemble those ofdysentery

Observation hive ndash A hive made mostly of glass or clear plastic to permit observation of the bees at work

Pesticide ndash A general name for materials used to kill undesirable insects plants rodents or other pests

Pollen ndash Dustlike grains formed in the flowers of plants in which the male elements areproduced Honey bees use pollen as a protein food for their young

Proboscis ndash The tongue of a honey bee

Propolis ndash A kind of glue or resin collected by the bees for use in closing up cracks anchoring hive parts etc It is also called bee glue

Pupa ndash The third stage of a developing bee during which it is inactive and sealed in its cell The adult form is recognizable during this stage

Queen excluder ndash A device usually constructed of wood and wire or sheet zinc having openings large enough for the passage of worker bees but too small for the passage of larger drone and queen bees

Robber bee ndash A field bee from one colony that takes honey from another colony

Sacbrood ndash A slightly contagious disease of brood that is caused by a virus

Sealed brood ndash Brood mostly in the pupa stage that has been capped or sealed in cells by the bees with a somewhat porous capping of wax

Section comb honey ndash Honey in the sealed comb that was produced in thin wooden frames called sections

Smoker ndash A device that burns slow-burning fuels to generate smoke for the purpose of keeping the bees calm while working in their hive

Solar wax extractor ndash A glass-covered box for melting down beeswax by the heat of the sun

Super ndash A receptacle in which bees store surplus honey placed ldquooverrdquo (above) the brood chamber As a verb to add supers in expectation of a honey flow

Swarm ndash A large group of worker bees drones and a queen that leaves the mother colony to establish a new colony

Travel stain ndash The darkened appearance on the surface of comb honey when left in the hive for some time caused by bees tracking propolis over the surface as they walk over the comb

Uniting ndash The combining of two or more colonies to form one large colony

Virgin queen ndash An unmated queen

Wax moth ndash A moth whose larvae feed on and destroy honeycomb

Revised 706

It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service David C Petritz Director that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and

facilities without regard to race color sex religion national origin age marital status parental status sexual orientation or disability Purdue University is an Affirmative Action

institution This material may be available in alternative formats 1-888-EXT-INFO bull httpwwwcespurdueedumarketing

Nosema ndash An infectious disease of the adult honey bee that infects the mid-gut or stomach It is caused by a protozoan parasite Symptoms of this disease closely resemble those ofdysentery

Observation hive ndash A hive made mostly of glass or clear plastic to permit observation of the bees at work

Pesticide ndash A general name for materials used to kill undesirable insects plants rodents or other pests

Pollen ndash Dustlike grains formed in the flowers of plants in which the male elements areproduced Honey bees use pollen as a protein food for their young

Proboscis ndash The tongue of a honey bee

Propolis ndash A kind of glue or resin collected by the bees for use in closing up cracks anchoring hive parts etc It is also called bee glue

Pupa ndash The third stage of a developing bee during which it is inactive and sealed in its cell The adult form is recognizable during this stage

Queen excluder ndash A device usually constructed of wood and wire or sheet zinc having openings large enough for the passage of worker bees but too small for the passage of larger drone and queen bees

Robber bee ndash A field bee from one colony that takes honey from another colony

Sacbrood ndash A slightly contagious disease of brood that is caused by a virus

Sealed brood ndash Brood mostly in the pupa stage that has been capped or sealed in cells by the bees with a somewhat porous capping of wax

Section comb honey ndash Honey in the sealed comb that was produced in thin wooden frames called sections

Smoker ndash A device that burns slow-burning fuels to generate smoke for the purpose of keeping the bees calm while working in their hive

Solar wax extractor ndash A glass-covered box for melting down beeswax by the heat of the sun

Super ndash A receptacle in which bees store surplus honey placed ldquooverrdquo (above) the brood chamber As a verb to add supers in expectation of a honey flow

Swarm ndash A large group of worker bees drones and a queen that leaves the mother colony to establish a new colony

Travel stain ndash The darkened appearance on the surface of comb honey when left in the hive for some time caused by bees tracking propolis over the surface as they walk over the comb

Uniting ndash The combining of two or more colonies to form one large colony

Virgin queen ndash An unmated queen

Wax moth ndash A moth whose larvae feed on and destroy honeycomb

Revised 706

It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service David C Petritz Director that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and

facilities without regard to race color sex religion national origin age marital status parental status sexual orientation or disability Purdue University is an Affirmative Action

institution This material may be available in alternative formats 1-888-EXT-INFO bull httpwwwcespurdueedumarketing

Revised 706

It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service David C Petritz Director that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and

facilities without regard to race color sex religion national origin age marital status parental status sexual orientation or disability Purdue University is an Affirmative Action

institution This material may be available in alternative formats 1-888-EXT-INFO bull httpwwwcespurdueedumarketing